To SV or Not to SV that is the question!

[Old Git]

Fallenangel, thanks for the support, been out locally to see a few bikes of all types, sit-on, dream etc. if you know of any '04 SV's @ £2,200 with only 2K on the clock, post me a phone number, nearest I found was a '05 @ £3K with 15K on, OK in a dealership but the diff. will pay the insurance.

http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...9&postcount=10
bit of a distance but for that price...

My sv was restricted to 33 bhp for the full 2 years i had to be restricted. It was quite happy being thrashed about (although no point in going over 7500 rpm, no power there) as well as being loaded up with a full topbox and tankbag and riding 130 miles to somerset (AR08 ) with my girlfriend on the back at 80 mph most of the way. Quite easily hit 100 mph, and I spent 50 odd motorway miles once at over 100 mph following my dad (GSXR750) and my mate (ZX-6R) to a race meeting. With a full topbox.

RE: milage; low milage might seem attractive, but think about what things could get seized up on a bike that is just left sitting in the corner of a garage most of the gear. A bike with higher milage will have been thouroughly run in, had a few services and any niggles sorted (you would hope), and will be running really well. A bike left sitting most of the time might, for example, have a duff battery..

Originally Posted by shonadoll

My OH rode mine and complained bitterly about the throttle-I'm used to it. It's very on/off, not much progression, but maybe it's more apparent on the pointies.

Apart from that, great bike, I had mine restricted and it went well.

I found it so like your OH after being on the GS but the more you use it the more control you get. It's just a learnig thing.

Bet it will be the same when i hop on th SV in the spring after 4-5 months of the GS again.

I went from a CG125 to an unrestricted SV650S. It takes a little bit of time ( 2 hours riding...) to get used to opening the throttle and the bike moving instantly, and whatever you do, don't twist the wrist violently.

The only catch is the road tax, max motorbike road tax starts at...600CC, so you're paying the same as the litre bikes. Insurance is a lot cheaper than them though.

[Old Git]

Originally Posted by AndyW

I went from a CG125 to an unrestricted SV650S. It takes a little bit of time ( 2 hours riding...) to get used to opening the throttle and the bike moving instantly, and whatever you do, don't twist the wrist violently.

The only catch is the road tax, max motorbike road tax starts at...600CC, so you're paying the same as the litre bikes. Insurance is a lot cheaper than them though.

Good point, thanks, that is sort of thing would nvr think of not bein rider before.
SV's seem very popular, not just on here either, phoned couple of adverts from MCN & web, all gone. Can't pay to much for 1st bike since it is bound to go on the floor at some stage, statistically.....

Oooh your Worcester, who did you learn with?? I did my training with Skellerns a few (cough) years ago, but they don't do that now.
I wished I'd had an SV as my first bike, but I went for a W650 and lost a lot of confidence. I then had the SV and got all my confidence back, so I would definately go for one!

I'd say that the SV seems perfect for a begginer. I'm recently passed (Last July) and on a 33bhp restriction and the SV so far has been reasonably forgiving and easy to ride.

As I'm a big fella (Over 6'3" and 15stone) I have found riding the SV a lot easier than the 125s which I learnt on simply because the 125s felt like little monkey bikes and didn't really feel stable to me. The engine in the SV seems fine restricted and will easily make 100mph+ but like alipinestar said not really much power at higher revs so need to work the gearbox more so!

Compared to most cars, the road tax is nothing! (My next "ideal" car has a road tax of £400p.a!)

[Old Git]

Originally Posted by Lou M

Oooh your Worcester, who did you learn with?? I did my training with Skellerns a few (cough) years ago, but they don't do that now.
I wished I'd had an SV as my first bike, but I went for a W650 and lost a lot of confidence. I then had the SV and got all my confidence back, so I would definately go for one!

Did condensed course (V) in Blackburn last week, price was brill, so were instructors, would recommend them to anyone who wanted to give it a go before the test changes.
Only problem now is funds for bike are quite limited ( had to pay for self & son on the course) so while I would like SV & it seems to tick all the boxes might have to set sights a little lower

There are bargains to be had out thee just keep looking!
My last bike (rip) was a 51 plate 650s with 4k on the clock for 1800 quid.
I Liked it so much I bought an 05 this year to replace it
Great bikes to learn on and once you get used to them theres loads of fun to be had from them too.

....plus the v twin sounds so much better too....